Public Employee Press

High School Equivalency Program
Moving ahead

By JANE LaTOUR

Sometimes in life, it takes time to move on to the next step. Circumstances intervene. People procrastinate. But eventually, the logic of advancing asserts itself. When District Council 37 members are ready to make progress toward their high school diploma, the union’s Education Fund is ready to help.

At DC 37 headquarters in Lower Manhattan and six at off-site centers in the city, students can enroll in high school equivalency classes and prepare to take the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) exam.

For School Crossing Guard Zoraida Torres, education is a dream long deferred. Life’s curve balls repeatedly interrupt her studies. Yet each time, an unquenchable desire pulls her back into the classroom. Now, the Local 372 member is again enrolled in the High School Equivalency Program. She hits the books as she waits for a sibling to arrive to share the care of her 84-year-old Alzheimer’s-afflicted mother. She studies between shifts on the street protecting city school children. “I want to improve myself and I try to be there for every class.”

“I’ve been putting this off for a long time,” said Leewood Carthins, a Manhattan Family Court Aide in Local 1070, “but I needed to challenge myself.” Daughter Tamara, a scholarship student in forensics and criminology at Clark University in Atlanta, inspires him. “She’s so proud of me — it’s like she’s the parent,” said Carthins.

For Local 1549 member Philip Meighan, a Mail Clerk at the Dept. for the Aging, “It’s been many years since I stepped inside a classroom. I’m learning things I need to know and Carol Bartley is a good teacher. She explains things clearly.” Meighan finds the support for tackling school within himself. He is determined to “get my GED, if not this year, then I’ll keep at it until I pass the exam,” he said.

Members get instruction in reading, writing, math, test-taking techniques and other required subject areas in small group and individualized formats. Recognizing that some members may be reluctant to enroll for fear that co-workers and supervisors will know they are studying for a GED, Viviana Tillman, associate administrator, points out that the Education Fund respects members’ privacy and keeps all student and program ­information confidential.

The students appreciate Carol Bartley, one of the many dedicated teachers like Sarah Williams who share new skills to help them move past difficult spots. They like her communication skills, her ­patience and her willingness to spend extra time with them. “Our teachers really help us,” said Torres.

Bartley brings 20 years of experience to her task and uses a creative approach to supplement the textbooks. “My greatest reward is when they pass the GED exam!” she said.

After almost 40 years with the Education Fund, Sarah Williams said, “I still find teaching adults exciting, rewarding and educational,” she said. “It’s a privilege to teach the people who make our city run. Helping them improve their standard of living through education is the biggestreward.”

“It’s so difficult to pay rent and the bills. This makes studying possible,” said Torres. “That the union provides this for us is great — great,” she said. For Leewood Carthins, “The program has opened up a whole new world. I have gained so much.”

The union’s High School Equivalency Program is currently accepting applications for spring 2008 classes; please call 212-815-1700.